Science in the Pub goes Outback

National Science Week is organised by the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC), the Australian Science Festival and the Australian Science Teachers Association (ASTA) with financial support through the Department of Industry Science and Resources.

The regional and remote areas of Australia are suffering an economic downturn and a deprivation of the living standards city-dwellers accept as the norm. In these areas there is little opportunity to understand the scientific principles underlying many of the decisions they believe are the cause of their problems. By featuring science through a variety of events geared to reach all members of the community, it is hoped that Science in the Pub goes Outback will be able open the doors to a better understanding of science.

Aim

The aim of Science in the Pub is to bring scientific pursuits into the very heart of popular culture by having scientists meet members of the wider community in the informal setting of the pub: an icon of Australian culture. The aims are fulfilled by demystifying science and humanising scientists. We do this by providing access for scientists to the public–and the public to scientists–in a forum of lively debate. This is achieved by:

• presenting an opportunity for the broader community to focus debate on issues in science and direct it through the informed opinions of scientists,
• encouraging the promotion of science and scientific discovery as exciting and enjoyable processes in an atmosphere of fun, without devaluing scientific integrity,
• providing a relaxed and informal venue for scientists to hone their communication skills,
• providing opportunities for young trainee science communicators to refine their communication and compering skills and to broaden their scientific knowledge through interaction with eminent scientists,
• developing opportunities for scientific collaboration across the disciplines so that scientists can work together more effectively to bring the plight of science to the notice of the public and through them, to government.

Science for the outback program

The choice of the five remote and regional centres was based on the significant scientific features and issues that could be addressed at each of them. Teams of scientists and science communicators have been chosen on the basis of their expert knowledge of relevant science and their talent for communicating informally with the broader community.

The program for each centre will be presented as a Science Festival consisting of a number of events (see draft promotional text). Because the Australian Outback offers a spectacular view of the night sky, at least one of the events in each centre is to be based on astronomy. Science relating to relevant local issues will also feature in the Science in the Pub series. Science in the Pub will encourage local people to debate and discuss these issues with the scientists over a few beers. There will generally be two scientists for each session, one an expert from the SciPub team and the other a local expert, selected for the different perspectives they bring on the topic. Two ABC science broadcasters, both scientists in their own right, will compere and moderate the sessions. Both are experts in diffusing confrontational situations with humour, all the time maintaining scientific integrity.

Draft text for promotional material to be sent to each Science in the Pub goes Outback centre.

Astronomy

Our Milky Way can be seen overhead from most of mainland Australia. The centre of our Galaxy passes directly overhead, albeit 25,000 light years away. As it does so, the Milky Way stretches north-south across the sky, a brilliant shimmer of light. In addition, the three brightest stars in the sky (Sirius, Canopus, Alpha Centauri), and the nearest galaxies (the Magellanic Clouds) are prominent in southern skies. This spectacular vista, seen against the dark, dark skies of the Australian outback, provides the best viewing of the heavens from Earth. This is the reason why a rich astronomical heritage has developed in modern Australia, despite its tender age. It is one of the few sciences where Australian contributions are truly world class.

The aboriginal population have, of course, appreciated the beauty and wonder of the night sky for millennia! Everyone living in the Outback has a natural affinity with the stars–they appear almost close enough to touch!

The timing of Science in the Pub goes Outback has been chosen so that the Moon will be in its first quarter–a thin crescent setting in the west a few hours after sunset. Not only will the night sky be brilliant, but at the start of the night we will be able to observe it at its finest, when the mountains on the Moon cast great shadows across the craters, along the terminator between the Moon’s night and day.

Fred’s own scientific interests are in the motions of stars and galaxies, and in the development of new instrumentation for astronomy. When time permits, he also carries out research on the history of optical instruments. He does the odd bit of writing and broadcasting and, like many astronomers, spends a lot of time wondering what the Universe is for (and why it is in such a mess). Fred’s activities outside work centre on his family and his passion for music; he composes and sings his own songs.

Dr David Malin spent most of his younger life as a child! During puberty he trained as a chemist and joined a large chemical company in the north of England. There he developed a vision, which has never left him, and viewed the workings of the world through ever more powerful microscopes, learning more and more about less and less. After 18 years of painful squinting he tired of this, and in 1975, he left for Australia and joined the fledgling Anglo-Australian Observatory, more or less fully grown.

In these early times, before computers and sliced bread, the southern sky was almost unexplored. With access to two fine new telescopes, only a fool could fail to make exciting discoveries right from the start. In 1987 he found a funny faint galaxy which is now known as 'Malin-1'. He has also given his name (more or less freely) to another class of galaxy he discovered, Malin-Carter ellipticals (galaxies with faint shells). It is also applied to a technique ('Malinisation'), which he does not understand, and to an asteroid, which he has not yet seen. He now spends his time making colour pictures of things which really only exist in black and white, and, as childhood slowly re-asserts itself, explaining them to people of all colours. He now needs a microscope to see almost anything.

Despite David's modesty he is in fact largely responsible for the public fascination with astronomical imagery today, through the widespread publication of his pictures around the world. The vast resources that the Hubble Space Telescope have put into publicising their own images was largely inspired by trying to match David's own efforts!

Dr Michael Burton, astronomer with the University of New South Wales will accompany Science in the Pub goes Outback as an adviser and manager of the Starry Starry Night event. Michael is an "infrared" astronomer, specialising in the study of how stars are born, and in the process producing the spectacular vista that is the southern Milky Way. He is also leading the development of major new facilities, being project scientist for largest millimetre-wave telescope in the Southern Hemisphere (at Mopra near Coonabarabran), and driving the development of astronomy in Antarctica. He installed Australia's first science experiment at the South Pole in 1994. Michael has written over 100 scientific papers in his field. He is also committed to the need for science communication, stressing the importance of science to modern society. He has, for instance, held a regular astronomy conversation on ABC regional radio through NSW over the past three years, which has broadcast over 100 times. With Robyn Stutchbury he is co-founder and organiser of Science in the Pub.

Ms Mel Hulbert, post-graduate astronomy student (UNSW) will operate a transportable telescope for the astronomy events, organised through the Sydney Observatory.

Starry Starry Night

In addition to featuring as part of the Science in the Pub sessions, astronomy will also be presented as "Starry Starry Night". This will bring science and the arts together, by intertwining astronomy, music and aboriginal legend. Sessions will be staged outdoors at night, under the stars, and feature David Malin's spectacular images of the night skies, tales of aboriginal legend of the sky, and Australian composer Ross Edwards (composer of the Dawn Mantras for the Millennium celebrations in Sydney).

Other science

Apart from at least one event featuring astronomy for each centre, local scientific issues will also be addressed, through Science in the Pub and the following other events:

Features female scientists visiting schools and community groups in morning or over lunch, talking about their life as a scientists. The emphasis is on attracting women into science.

Visits of scientists to schools and community groups, giving talks about science, what it is and why it is important, and opportunities for careers in science. All will be available for interviews with the local media.

Interviews conducted with the scientists on regional radio at each of the centres. This will include radio telephone to outback stations and linking in with School of the Air.

Dr Paul Willis, palaeontologist and science broadcaster with ABC’s Quantum.

Mr Alun Anderson, Editor-in-chief of New Scientist magazine.

Dr Clio Cresswell, UNSW Mathematician (to be confirmed 23.2.00)

Two other scientists are to be confirmed when each of the centres decides upon its choice of program. One is a leading scientist in education technology, important to regional Australia for distance education. We believe this will be very attractive to women’s groups for Science in the Bush events. The other is a young medical scientist, talented in leading discussion in sports medicine. 'Sport' is the overall theme of this year’s National Science Week.

Science for the Centres

Although geology and mining sciences are the obvious choices for Broken Hill, one of Australia’s leading mining centres, the mineral deposits are rapidly being depleted and so far, no worthwhile mineable deposit has been found to replace them. Consequently, Broken Hill is looking to reassess its situation and plans to develop as a leader in the tourist industry. With this in mind, Science in the Pub will present ‘Life, the Universe and Everything!’ with Dr Fred Watson, Professor Ian Plimer and Dr David Malin.

The science to be presented for the other events is yet to be chosen by the centre representatives.

Birdsville is famous as an important ‘watering hole’ on the historic stock route that took cattle from north Queensland to ports in South Australia. It is the gateway to the Simpson Desert and has geologically significant features. Birdsville’s Diamantina River and the other Channel Country rivers flow into Lake Eyre, forming one of the largest internal drainage basins on Earth. However, Lake Eyre rarely fills even though it is 15 m below sea level. This is because the evaporation rate is so high. This may be set to change shortly, however, following extensive flooding in region of the catchment this year!

Birdsville’s Science in the Pub will focus on moves to dam rivers upstream for cotton growing together with recommendations to list the Lake Eyre Basin for World Heritage. These are of considerable consternation to the local graziers, who in turn, are accused of over-grazing. The issues are very much on the agenda of a number of government agencies and one or two expert scientists from the Lake Eyre Basin Commission will be invited to join Professor Ian Plimer to debate and discuss the science underpinning these matters.

Birdsville will feature Starry Starry Night with Fred Watson, David Malin, an aboriginal interpreter of dream-time meanings for the constellations and Australian composer, Ross Edwards who is currently writing a concerto based on cosmic events. We will use astronomy to look at the continuum between science and music while sitting gazing at the stars from a desert vantage point north of Birdsville.

Longreach is the largest town in central-western Queensland. It lies beside the Thomson River on the Tropic of Capricorn. It is a popular tourist attraction. Scientific features include its proximity to a number of famous palaeontologic sites (Muttaburra dinosaur deposits; Riversleigh marsupial deposits); mining centres (Mt Isa, MacArthur); boulder opal deposits, and the fact that it was Qantas Airlines’ first air base and factory.

Centre organisers have requested Starry Starry Night as one event. The topic for Science in the Pub has yet to be chosen.

Charleville is situated on the Landsborough Highway, known by travellers as the Matilda Highway. The shire has four artesian bores. Artesian water is essential to the town’s survival, as the average rainfall of the area is just 50 cm a year.

Charleville’s tourist industry has focussed on the clear night skies of the Outback to set up a centre called Outback Queensland Skywatch, its own establishment for stargazing: "At Outback Queensland Skywatch, you can enjoy special feature movies shown in the Galactic Theatre and then experience the joy of outdoor viewing in the Telescope Garden. You also have the excitement of hands-on operation of the Celestron Telescopes as they view the vast canopy of the southern sky.'’ Charleville organisers have requested an event based on astronomy, combining Starry Starry Night with the discussion on Life, the Universe and Everything!

Bourke lies on the Darling River and was a major inland river port up until the beginning of the last century. Potential scientific issues for the Science in the Pub session arise from problems associated with Darling River water use. These include the salinity problems of the Murray Darling Basin and the blue-green algal blooms. Cotton growing and the use of gene technology to overcome insecticide problems could be discussed. Feral fish and efforts to restock with Australian native fish is another topic suggested to the local organisers. Scientists will be drawn from local scientific government agencies (Fisheries; Border Rivers Commission; Murray-Darling Basin Co-operative Research Centre) in collaboration with Professor Ian Lowe (Griffith University, Queensland).

Media Presence

Negotiations are underway with a documentary team to produce a TV documentary of the event for Australian and international markets. Their team will include a writer/producer and a host of international stature.

Includes a reporter and photographer, supported by New Scientist.

A daily website on the trip, sponsored by the ABC. The daily diary, including digital pictures, will be emailed each morning to the ABC for incorporation into ABC Science's website, the LAB.

Summary

Science in the Pub goes Outback will feature science for everyone. For the centres, it is hoped that scientific explanations will offer an understanding of why decisions, apparently adverse to the community’s welfare, have to be made in consideration of the broader issues and overall effects. This will be a rare opportunity gain a snapshot of the lives of those living in the regional and remote communities and the role of science in their lives.

Sponsors

'Science in the Pub goes Outback' was only made possible by the generous support of a number of sponsors. The Department of Industry, Science and Resources (DISR), through its Science and Technology Awareness Program (STAP), and the University of New South Wales Faculty of Science and Technology were major sponsors of Science in the Pub, Science in the Bush, school visits and distance education broadcasts, whilst the U Committee of the University of New South Wales were sponsors of Starry Starry Night (The U Committee is a charitable organisation for the University of New South Wales. Since its inception the group of volunteers have raised more than $2 million for the University. These funds have been dispersed to groups and projects which otherwise would not have been funded).

Other sponsors include:

• The Australian Mathematics Society
• The Garvan Institute of Medical Research
• CSIRO Australian Telescope National Facility
• Sydney Observatory (Powerhouse Museum)
• New Scientist
• Macquarie University